Christmas Veggie Wellington

Ingredients

For the filling

• 60g/2oz basmati rice, cooked according to the packet instructions
• pinch turmeric
• 1 lemon, zest only
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 600g/1lb 5oz brown cap mushrooms, sliced
• 50g/2oz butter, melted
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh tarragon
• 1 tbsp dried cranberries
• 2 free-range eggs, hard-boiled, chopped
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the pastry

• 250g/9oz ready-rolled puff pastry
• 1 free-range egg, beaten
• 1 tsp sesame seeds
• vegetarian gravy, to serve

Preparation method

1. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
   
2. Combine the cooked rice, turmeric and lemon zest and set aside, covered, in the refrigerator.
   
3. Heat the butter in a frying pan over a medium heat, add the onion and mushroom and fry for 3-4 minutes, or until softened. Set aside to cool.
   
4. Stir in the cooked rice, herbs, cranberries and hard-boiled eggs until well combined. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
   
5. For the pastry, cut a 40cm x 20cm/15in x 8in rectangle from the puff pastry.
   
6. Spoon the rice mixture down the centre of the pastry. Bring the sides of the pastry together and seal. Brush all over with beaten egg and chill for 30 minutes.
   
7. Sprinkle the pastry parcel with sesame seeds and bake in the oven for 30 minutes, or until crisp and golden-brown.
   
8. To serve, place one slice of the Wellington onto each of six serving plates. Pour over vegetarian gravy.
   

Goats Cheese Cannelloni With Cherry Tomatoes

 

Ingredients

• 400g/14oz cherry tomatoes, halved
• 125ml/4fl oz extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 400g/14oz ricotta
• 300g/10½oz goats' cheese
• 300g/10½oz parmesan (or a vegetarian alternative), grated
• 200g/7oz baby spinach
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 12 12cm/5in x 10cm/4in sheets fresh pasta

                To serve

• parmesan shavings
• green salad leaves, dressed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar

Preparation method

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/365F/Gas 4.
   
2. Place the tomatoes into a bowl and drizzle with the olive oil. Add the thyme and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
   
3. Place the ricotta, goats' cheese and parmesan into a clean bowl and mix well.
   
4. Add the spinach and garlic and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
   
5. Lay the pasta sheets onto a clean work surface. Place a line of the cheese and spinach mixture along the longer edge of each pasta sheet, then roll up like a cigar.
   
6. Drizzle the cannelloni rolls with a little of the oil that the tomatoes have been sitting in, then pour the remaining oil into the bottom of an ovenproof dish that will hold all 12 cannelloni.
   
7. Place the cannelloni tubes into the dish and place the tomatoes evenly over the top.
   
8. Transfer to the oven to bake for 15 minutes, or until cooked through.
   
9. To serve, place three cannelloni onto each of four plates. Sprinkle with parmesan shavings and place a spoonful of dressed mixed green salad leaves alongside.
   

Easy cheese & onion slice

Easy cheese & onion slice

Ingredients:

600g baking potatoes , peeled and chopped into chunks
300g mature cheddar , 200g grated, 100g cubed
pinch cayenne pepper
large bunch spring onions , finely sliced
1 egg , beaten
500g pack all-butter puff pastry
jar caramelised red onions (we used English Provender Company), to serve

Methods:

Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Boil potatoes for 15 mins until tender, then drain well and smash a little. Cool slightly.
Mix the cheese, cayenne and onions with the smashed potatoes and stir to make a mouldable filling. Roll out the pastry to a rectangle about 25 x 35cm. Carefully lift onto a baking sheet and brush all over with beaten egg.
Press the cheese mix along one of the long sides of the pastry, leaving 2cm pastry free on one side for sealing, and half of the pastry empty on the other side for folding over later. Fold the pastry over the filling and press the edges together, before trimming with a knife and sealing well by pressing the edges with a fork.
Brush with egg and bake for 30 mins. Cool, then slice and serve with caramelised red onions. Can be made 1 day ahead

467 kcalories, protein 16g, carbohydrate 35g, fat 31 g, saturated fat 19g, fibre 2g, sugar 1g, salt 1.37 g